Some wanted to go further and require congressmen to put their assets in blind trusts, as the president does.

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But he has placed most of his fortune in blind trusts, and has been careful not to flaunt his wealth.

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Many wealthy candidates have used blind trusts to quell conflict of interest concerns, including the world's most powerful billionaire, Michael Bloomberg.

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The Cabinet Office has acknowledged that the ministerial code was changed under Gordon Brown's premiership to take out all references to blind trusts.

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An indignant Mr Robinson could see nothing hypocritical in this, still less illegal: had he not forgone his ministerial salary, set up blind trusts, and been scrupulous about paying taxes?

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Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain to open up their blind family trusts because they were not set up under the agency's standards.

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We also excluded non-U.S. stocks, blind pools, real estate investment trusts, limited partnerships and closed-end funds.

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Yet Labour has spoilt a good case by setting up a blind trust to finance Tony Blair's private office (as well as similar trusts for other frontbenchers).

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